Compared to Estimates, Paychex (PAYX) Q3 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

Paychex (PAYX) reported $1.51 billion in revenue for the quarter ended February 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 4.8%. EPS of $1.49 for the same period compares to $1.38 a year ago.The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.03% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.48, the EPS surprise was +0.68%.While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.Here is how Paychex performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Average investment Balance - Funds held for clients: $5.12 billion versus $4.98 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Average interest rates earned (exclusive of net realized gains) - Funds held for clients: 3.4% compared to the 3.4% average estimate based on three analysts. Average investment Balance - Corporate cash equivalents and investments: $1.54 billion compared to the $1.50 billion average estimate based on two analysts. Average interest rates earned (exclusive of net realized gains) - Corporate cash equivalents and investments: 4.3% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 4.5%. Revenue- Interest on funds held for clients: $42.90 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $40.82 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -2.3%. Revenue- Total service revenue: $1.47 billion compared to the $1.47 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +5.1% year over year. Revenue- PEO and Insurance Services: $365.40 million versus the six-analyst average estimate of $371.35 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +5.8%. Revenue- Management Solutions: $1.10 billion compared to the $1.10 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.8% year over year. View all Key Company Metrics for Paychex here>>>Shares of Paychex have returned -4.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor StockIt's only 1/9,000th the size of NVIDIA which skyrocketed more than +800% since we recommended it. NVIDIA is still strong, but our new top chip stock has much more room to boom.With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $803 billion by 2028.See This Stock Now for Free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Paychex, Inc. (PAYX): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks